Combined representation of a hierarchical data item collection

ABSTRACT

A hierarchical system is used to store data items easily capable of thumbnail representation (such as images). Such a hierarchical system may allow a folder (or other grouping) to contain both data items and sub-folders. The display of such a folder uses two display areas. In one display area, sub-folders are displayed using a list view, where text is the primary method for the display of the sub-folders which are contained in the folder. In the other display area, a grid view is used to display the data items. Thumbnail images are the primary components of the grid view. Functionality available to a user will change based on whether the user is browsing the list view or the grid view.

BACKGROUND

Mobile devices can store a collection of data items, such as images. Forexample, cameras and cell phones including camera functionality maystore images captured using the camera or camera functionality. The userof such a device often is provided with a view of the collection.Additionally, many other systems which store or access collections ofimages provide a user with a view of a collection.

At the present time, there are several ways to provide a user with adisplay of all or part of a collection of data items such as images. Oneway is to use a list view. The list view lists items in the collection.For example, one way to provide a list view of a collection of images isto list the name of each item in the collection, the size of the item,the type of the item, the date and time of the creation of the item, thedate and time of the modification of the item, and the location of theitem. This allows a user to see and sort on many pieces of informationrelated to the items in the collection. However, the list view does notallow a user to easily select a specific item in certain cases. Forexample, if the items are images and the images are not given usefulnames, and if the user is looking for an image of a specific person, alist view will not provide the user with the ability to easily find theimage.

Alternately, a grid view may be used to display the content. A grid viewis a display of some or all of the items in a collection which is moregraphical than the list view. The grid view provides a number ofgraphical thumbnails, each representing an item in the collection. Forexample, a collection including images would represent each image as agraphical thumbnail of the image. In general, in a grid view thethumbnails are arranged in a grid, so that a user can more easily viewthe items in the collection. Not all of the items may be visible at onetime—it may be necessary for the user to scroll or page to view all ofthe items in a collection.

A grid view allows a user to more quickly find an item which is morequickly identified by a thumbnail than by descriptive information. Thus,a grid view is useful for a collection which includes photographs orimages. However, a grid view may not be as useful for switching betweendisplays of collections. If a collection includes severalsub-collections, each sub-collection must be selected in order todisplay the grid view for that sub-collection. Then that selection mustbe reversed or backed out of, or the original collection selected againin order to view the original collection again, for example to select analternate sub-collection.

This may be made more difficult if the user input device is simple. Forexample, where a user input consists of only several keys, selection maybe accomplished by navigating to an item in the grid view (through arrowkeys, for example) and then highlighting an item in the grid view(through a selection button). Where a user input consists only of amouse or other pointing device, selection is accomplished by pointing atan item and pressing or clicking a button.

In such cases, where user input devices are minimal, navigation becomescumbersome. In order to view different collections, the user must selecteach collection and then back out of the selection. This makesnavigating several collections and sub-collections difficult.Additionally different functionality may be required for differentitems. For example, items which are collections may be opened to viewthe items in the collection upon mouse click in a grid view. Items whichare images may be printed upon a mouse click. In such a case, whennavigation proceeds from one item to the next in a view, thefunctionality provided changes, and this may be confusing for a user.

Thus, there is a need for a system and method to overcome these deficitsin the prior art. The present invention addresses the aforementionedneeds and solves them with additional advantages as expressed herein.

SUMMARY

A display is provided of collections of items, some of which includedata items capable of thumbnail representation. The collections arehierarchical, and a collection may include sub-collections. For example,where a hierarchical foldering system is implemented, folders mayinclude data items and sub-folders.

In order to allow easy navigation through the collections, in oneembodiment, a display includes a first display area in which thumbnailrepresentations of data items are displayed. In addition, sub-collectionrepresentations of sub-collections (e.g. lower-level folders included inthe folder being displayed) are provided in a second display area. Thesesub-collection representations may include, for example, text (such asthe name of the lower-level folder). An icon of a folder and/or othergraphics and text may be included in the sub-collection representation.

The functionality which is presented to a user, in one embodiment,changes based on whether a data item or a sub-collection is selected, orwhether the first display area or second display area is selected.Sorting, grouping, and filtering actions are supported.

Only some embodiments of the invention have been described in thissummary. Other embodiments, advantages and novel features of theinvention may become apparent from the following detailed description ofthe invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating theinvention, there is shown in the drawings exemplary constructions of theinvention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific methodsand instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing environment in whichaspects of the invention may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a prior art hierarchical system includingnested folders and data items;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for representing a collection ofitems including sub-collections and data items according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a combined display according to someembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a second view block diagram showing an example of a combineddisplay according to some embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system for generating a display of dataitems according to some embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary Computing Environment

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary computing environment in which aspects of theinvention may be implemented. The computing system environment 100 isonly one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intendedto suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of theinvention. Neither should the computing environment 100 be interpretedas having any dependency or requirement relating to any one orcombination of components illustrated in the exemplary computingenvironment 100.

The invention is operational with numerous other general purpose orspecial purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include,but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-heldor laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems,set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputers, mainframe computers, embedded systems, distributedcomputing environments that include any of the above systems or devices,and the like.

The invention may be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Theinvention may also be practiced in distributed computing environmentswhere tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linkedthrough a communications network or other data transmission medium. In adistributed computing environment, program modules and other data may belocated in both local and remote computer storage media including memorystorage devices.

With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary system for implementing theinvention includes a general purpose computing device in the form of acomputer 110. Components of computer 110 may include, but are notlimited to, a processing unit 120, a system memory 130, and a system bus121 that couples various system components including the system memoryto the processing unit 120. The processing unit 120 may representmultiple logical processing units such as those supported on amulti-threaded processor. The system bus 121 may be any of several typesof bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, aperipheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of busarchitectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architecturesinclude Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro ChannelArchitecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video ElectronicsStandards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral ComponentInterconnect (PCI) bus (also known as Mezzanine bus). The system bus 121may also be implemented as a point-to-point connection, switchingfabric, or the like, among the communicating devices.

Computer 110 typically includes a variety of computer readable media.Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby computer 110 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media,removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatileand nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM,EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CDROM, digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium which can be used to store the desired informationand which can accessed by computer 110. Communication media typicallyembodies computer readable instructions, data structures, programmodules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier waveor other transport mechanism and includes any information deliverymedia. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one ormore of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encodeinformation in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,communication media includes wired media such as a wired network ordirect-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF,infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer readable media.

The system memory 130 includes computer storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 131and random access memory (RAM) 132. A basic input/output system 133(BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer informationbetween elements within computer 110, such as during start-up, istypically stored in ROM 131. RAM 132 typically contains data and/orprogram modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presentlybeing operated on by processing unit 120. By way of example, and notlimitation, FIG. 1 illustrates operating system 134, applicationprograms 135, other program modules 136, and program data 137.

The computer 110 may also include other removable/non-removable,volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,FIG. 1 illustrates a hard disk drive 140 that reads from or writes tonon-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive 151that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk 152,and an optical disk drive 155 that reads from or writes to a removable,nonvolatile optical disk 156, such as a CD ROM or other optical media.Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storagemedia that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include,but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards,digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solidstate ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive 141 is typically connectedto the system bus 121 through a non-removable memory interface such asinterface 140, and magnetic disk drive 151 and optical disk drive 155are typically connected to the system bus 121 by a removable memoryinterface, such as interface 150.

The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed aboveand illustrated in FIG. 1, provide storage of computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules and other data for thecomputer 110. In FIG. 1, for example, hard disk drive 141 is illustratedas storing operating system 144, application programs 145, other programmodules 146, and program data 147. Note that these components can eitherbe the same as or different from operating system 134, applicationprograms 135, other program modules 136, and program data 137. Operatingsystem 144, application programs 145, other program modules 146, andprogram data 147 are given different numbers here to illustrate that, ata minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands andinformation into the computer 20 through input devices such as akeyboard 162 and pointing device 161, commonly referred to as a mouse,trackball or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include amicrophone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like.These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit120 through a user input interface 160 that is coupled to the systembus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such asa parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor191 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus121 via an interface, such as a video interface 190. In addition to themonitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices suchas speakers 197 and printer 196, which may be connected through anoutput peripheral interface 195.

The computer 110 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer180. The remote computer 180 may be a personal computer, a server, arouter, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, andtypically includes many or all of the elements described above relativeto the computer 110, although only a memory storage device 181 has beenillustrated in FIG. 1. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 1include a local area network (LAN) 171 and a wide area network (WAN)173, but may also include other networks. Such networking environmentsare commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranetsand the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 110 is connectedto the LAN 171 through a network interface or adapter 170. When used ina WAN networking environment, the computer 110 typically includes amodem 172 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN173, such as the Internet. The modem 172, which may be internal orexternal, may be connected to the system bus 121 via the user inputinterface 160, or other appropriate mechanism. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 110, orportions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. Byway of example, and not limitation, FIG. 1 illustrates remoteapplication programs 185 as residing on memory device 181. It will beappreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers may beused.

Combined Representation of a Hierarchical Data Item Collection

Many devices and computer systems allow users to store hierarchically adata item collection in which folders can contain sub-folders as well asdata items. FIG. 2 is an exemplary depiction of such a collection. Asshown in FIG. 2, a top-level folder 201 contains second-level folders202 a and 202 b and data items 210 a and 210 b. Second-level folder 202a contains third-level folders 203 a, 203 b and 203 c. Second-levelfolder 202 b contains data items 210 c and 210 d. And third-level folder203 c contains data items 210 e, 210 f, 210 g, 210 h, 210 i, and 210 j.As shown, folders may be empty (such as third-level folders 203 a and203 b), may contain only data items (second-level folder 202 b andthird-level folder 203 c), contain only folders (second-level folder 202a) or may contain both folders and data items (top-level folder 201).While folders are discussed and shown in FIG. 2, folders can be anygrouping, and may be called “collections”, “groupings” or otherwisetermed. The system may be implemented in many ways, and discussions of afolder (such as second-level folder 202 a) being “in” another folder(such as top-level folder 201) do not imply any specific structural orphysical containment. Generally, links or lists are used to create sucha hierarchical system.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for representing a collection ofitems including sub-collections and data items. As shown in FIG. 3, instep 300, individual data items in a collection are displayed bydisplaying a thumbnail representation for each individual item. In step310, sub-collections in a collection are displayed by providing asub-collection representation for each sub-collection. While these stepsare shown in FIG. 3 as being performed in series, they may be performedin any order, including at the same time or overlapping in any way.

An individual data item may be an image, in which case the thumbnailrepresentation may be a version of the image sized to fit in a smallarea. An individual data item may also be, for example, a video file, inwhich the thumbnail representation may be selected to show what thecontent of the video file is—for example, a representative still, astill from a title sequence, or a series of representative stills. Inthe case in which an individual data item is a video file, a clip of thevideo file may also be used. Generally, the thumbnail representation maybe any visual representation derived from the data image which willassist a user in quickly identifying the data item represented. In oneembodiment, some textual information is displayed along with thethumbnail representation, either underneath it or, for example, visiblein a pop-up box when the user indicates (e.g. through a mouse pointerposition) a specific thumbnail.

A sub-collection representation of a sub-collection generally includestext including the name of the sub-collection or any identifyinginformation about the sub-collection which a user may use to distinguishamong sub-collections. Other information, such as a number of data itemsin the sub-collection, date information regarding the sub collection, ora thumbnail showing one or more representative data items from thesub-collection may also be included.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a combined display according to oneembodiment of the present invention. A combined display 400 includes afirst display area 410 in which thumbnail representations are displayed,and a second display area 420 in which sub-collection representationsare displayed. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a combined displaydisplaying the top-level folder 201 of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, thefirst display area 410 includes a thumbnail 510 a of a first data item(e.g. data item 210 a from FIG. 2) and a thumbnail 510 b of a seconddata item (e.g. data item 210 b from FIG. 2). Second display area 420includes a text description 502 a of a first second-level folder (folder202 a from FIG. 2) and a text description 502 b of a second second-levelfolder (folder 202 b from FIG. 2). Where more data items orsub-collections exist, they are also represented by thumbnails orsub-collection representations. In one embodiment, more data items maybe in the collection than are represented by thumbnails in first displayarea 410 and additional thumbnails may be revealed, for example byscrolling using a scrollbar, by requesting additional thumbnails, orautomatically over time. In some embodiments, when more thumbnails arerequested, first display area 410 is enlarged to display morethumbnails, with second display area 420 disappearing, being overlapped,or being shrunk to accommodate the additional display. Similarly, moresub-collections than those shown by sub-collection representations insecond display area 420 may be present, and a scroll bar, user request,or automatic scrolling (among other behaviors) are used in order todisplay the additional sub-collection representations.

In some embodiments, the user can select one of the sub-collectionrepresentations, and upon such selection, thumbnails corresponding todata images in the sub-collection represented by the sub-collectionrepresentation appear in the first display area. In some suchembodiments, the second display area 420 displays sub-collectionrepresentations of sub-sub-collections (collections contained within thesub-collection—such the relationship that third-level folder 203 c hasto top-level folder 201 in FIG. 2) in the sub-collection.

In some embodiments, a third display area describes or indicatesfunctionality which can be accessed by a user. For example, a list offunctions such as delete, print, display, and edit are listed orotherwise represented (e.g. with icons). In some such embodiment, thefunctions available for the user are different depending on whether thesecond display area 420 has been selected by the user or whether thefirst display area 410 has been selected by the user. Thus, if thesecond display area 420 has been highlighted or selected (by resting themouse within the display area, by touching the display area 420 on atouch screen, by selecting a sub-collection representation in the seconddisplay area, or in some other way) then a first set of functions areavailable. Where a third display area indicates available functionality,this display area shows the available functions for the sub-collections.If the first display area 410 has been selected in a similar manner(e.g. by selecting a thumbnail or selecting the first display area 410in general) then the third display area shows the available functionsfor the data items.

In some embodiments, one or more items in the first display area 410and/or one or more items in the second display area 420 may beselected/highlighted. Such highlighting may cause the display of thehighlighted items to appear differently in the combined display 400.Selection of items in this way causes the highlighted items to be actedupon together.

In one embodiment, the items in the first display area 410 or the seconddisplay area 420 are sorted in response to a sorting command. Thus, forexample, thumbnail images in a first display area 410 are sorted bydate, by reverse date, by size, by length (for a video presentation), bysource, or otherwise, in response to a sorting command. Similarly, thesub-collection representations in the second display area 420 are sortedin response to command to sort those sub-collection representations. Inone embodiment, a unified sorting command can be issued which sorts boththe thumbnail images in the first display area 410 and thesub-collection representations in the second display area 420.

In one embodiment, addition to a sorting command, a user can access agrouping command and/or a filtering command. A grouping command allows auser to group the images in terms of a group—by month, by folder, or bykeyword. The result of a grouping command, in one embodiment, is toprovide thumbnail images according to the group specified in thegrouping command. Thus, where a grouping command requests images groupedby keyword and each image has been tagged with one or more of fivedifferent keywords, the images are displayed in groups, each grouprepresenting a specific keyword. A visual indication of which keywordcorresponds to a group may also be provided. In one embodiment, allgroups are visible. In another embodiment, thumbnail images for onegroup are displayed in first display area 410 and sub-collectionrepresentations corresponding to the other available groups aredisplayed in second display area 420. In other embodiments some or allof the grouped images are displayed in a way which makes clear theirgroupings. Similarly, a filter command may be selected by a user. One ormore filtering criteria are associated with a filtering command. In oneembodiment, the result of a filtering command is to have only thoseimages which pass the filtering criteria displayed in second displayarea 420.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system for generating a display of dataitems according to some embodiments of the invention. As shown in FIG.6, a system 600 includes a collection indication acceptor 605 whichaccepts an indication of a hierarchical grouping—e.g. afolder/collection described above. As an example, with reference to FIG.1, this collection indication acceptor 605 may comprise a pointingdevice 161 or a keyboard 162, along with a user input interface 160.Additionally, with reference again to FIG. 6, a first area display datagenerator 610 which generates first area display data including athumbnail image for child data items in the indicated folder. A secondarea display data generator 620 generates a second area display dataincluding sub-collection representations describing child folders in theindicated folder.

With reference to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the first area display datagenerator 610 and the second area display data generator 620 may beimplemented in a combination of a system memory 130 and a processingunit 120. In some embodiments, a display 630 (such as monitor 191 fromFIG. 1) is also included in the system. In some embodiments anindication acceptor for selecting an item and a function selectionacceptor for accepting a function selection are accepted. These are, inone embodiment, implemented with collection indication acceptor 605.

CONCLUSION

It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely forthe purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limitingof the present invention. While the invention has been described withreference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words whichhave been used herein are words of description and illustration, ratherthan words of limitations. Further, although the invention has beendescribed herein with reference to particular means, materials andembodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to theparticulars disclosed herein; rather, the invention extends to allfunctionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are withinthe scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having thebenefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerousmodifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention in its aspects.

1. A method for displaying a data collection, said data collectioncomprising at least one individual items and at least onesub-collection, each of said sub-collections comprising one or moresub-collection items, said method comprising: displaying each of saidindividual items by displaying a thumbnail representation of saidindividual item; and displaying each of said sub-collections in asub-collection representation area, each sub-collection representationarea displaying data representing said sub-collection.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, where said display of said individual items occurs in a firstarea of a display, and where said display of said sub-collections occursin a second area of a display.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: accepting a user selection of one of said thumbnailrepresentations or one of said sub-collection representation areas. 4.The method of claim 3, where user selection of one of saidsub-collection representation areas corresponding to a specificsub-collection causes display in said first area of at least onesub-collection item thumbnail, each sub-collection item thumbnailcorresponding to a sub-collection item in said specific sub-collection.5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying at least onefunction description corresponding to functionality which can beaccessed by a user.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:accepting a user selection of one of said thumbnail representations orone of said sub-collection representation areas.
 7. The method of claim6, where said function descriptions displayed change based on whethersaid user selection is of one of said thumbnail representations or is ofone of said sub-collection representation areas.
 8. The method of claim1, further comprising: accepting a sorting command from a user; andmodifying said display of said individual items according to saidsorting command.
 9. A computer-readable medium comprisingcomputer-executable instructions for displaying a collection of dataitems, said collection comprising at least one individual item and atleast one sub-collection item, each of said sub-collections comprisingsub-collection data items, said computer-executable instructions forperforming steps comprising: displaying in a first area of a display agraphical representation corresponding to each of said individual items;and displaying in a second area of a display a sub-collectionrepresentation item corresponding to each of said sub-collection items.10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, said steps furthercomprising: accepting a user browsing command indicating of one of saidgraphical representations or said sub-collection representation items;and highlighting said selected graphical representation or saidsub-collection representation item.
 11. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 10, said steps further comprising: displaying functionalityselection data for selecting functionality which can be performed on adata item.
 12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, where saidfunctionality selection data is different if a sub-collectionrepresentation item is highlighted than it is if a graphicalrepresentation is highlighted.
 13. The computer-readable medium of claim9, said steps further comprising: accepting a user selection indicationselecting one of said graphical representations or said sub-collectionrepresentation items, and performing an action on said data itemcorresponding to said selected graphical representation or said selectedsub-collection representation item.
 14. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 13, said steps further comprising: displaying, if said userselection indicates a sub-collection representation item correspondingto a specific sub-collection, at least one sub-collection data itemsfrom said specific sub-collection.
 15. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 9, said steps further comprising: accepting a sorting command froma user; and modifying said display of said graphical representationsaccording to said sorting command.
 16. A system for generating a displayof data items stored in hierarchical groupings, each hierarchicalgrouping comprising at least one child data item or one childhierarchical grouping, said system comprising: a collection indicationacceptor for accepting an indication of a selected hierarchicalgrouping; a first area display data generator operably connected to saidindication acceptor, said first area display data generator forgenerating first area display data, said first area display datacomprising at least one thumbnail image, each of said thumbnail imagescorresponding to a child data item in said selected hierarchicalgrouping; and a second area display data generator operably connected tosaid indication acceptor, said second area display data generator forgenerating second area display data, said second area display datacomprising at least one sub-collection representation items, each ofsaid sub-collection representation items corresponding to a childhierarchical grouping in said selected hierarchical grouping.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16, further comprising: a display, operably connected tosaid first area display data generator and said second area display datagenerator, displaying said first area display data and said second areadisplay data.
 18. The system of claim 16, further comprising: an itemindication acceptor, operably connected to said first area display datagenerator and said second area display data generator, said data itemindication acceptor for accepting an item indication of one of saidthumbnail images or one of said sub-collection representation items; afunction selection acceptor, operably connected to said data itemindication acceptor, for accepting an indication of a function fromamong a set of possible functions to perform, where said a first set ofpossible functions is selected from if said item indication indicatesone of said thumbnail images, where a second set of possible functionsis selected from if said item indication indicates one of saidsub-collection representation items, and where said first set ofpossible functions and said second set of possible functions is notidentical.
 19. The system of claim 18, where, when function selectionacceptor selects a sorting command, said first area data generatorgenerates a revised first area display data, said revised first areadisplay data comprising said thumbnail images sorted according to saidsorting command.
 20. The system of claim 18, where, when said functionselector accepts a grouping command, said first area data generatorgenerates a revised first area display data, said revised first areadisplay data comprising said thumbnail images grouped according to saidgrouping command.